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#1
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded
malware (https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk.../#56cb81573f28) and the author suggests "As a wider tip: I would also advise anyone who buys a new PC to make their first step formatting the computer and reinstalling Windows." Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? |
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#2
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
In article , Alek wrote:
A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded malware (https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk.../#56cb81573f28) Windows 10 *IS* embedded malware. (Yes, people have been saying that about Windows pretty much from the beginning, but nowadays, with W10, it is literally true) This is no longer hyperbole. and the author suggests "As a wider tip: I would also advise anyone who buys a new PC to make their first step formatting the computer and installing Linux." Fixed that for you. Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? Quite so. -- The randomly chosen signature file that would have appeared here is more than 4 lines long. As such, it violates one or more Usenet RFCs. In order to remain in compliance with said RFCs, the actual sig can be found at the following URL: http://user.xmission.com/~gazelle/Sigs/ThePublicGood |
#3
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
Alek wrote:
Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? Yes, so download it ... |
#4
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
Alek wrote:
A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded malware (https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk.../#56cb81573f28) and the author suggests "As a wider tip: I would also advise anyone who buys a new PC to make their first step formatting the computer and reinstalling Windows." Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? The first step is checking your "media cabinet". If your new computer has no optical drive, you'd need a portable optical drive, or you'd need a USB flash stick. An 8GB USB flash stick should be big enough in most casee. The MediaCreationTool1903 that is downloaded today, can make a DVD from the download or can load the OS install materials onto a USB stick. When you boot the computer with that "made" media, you will need to use the popup boot key, and select the right option. For example, my Sandisk USB key shows up twice in the Popup Boot menu. Sandisk 16GB UEFI: Sandisk 16GB In the case of a Dell/HP/Acer, the previous install (disk partitioning) is likely to be GPT for UEFI. And you'd select UEFI in the boot menu if re-installing. If the BIOS supports UEFI+CSM, when you boot the install media, there's a Command Prompt in the Troubleshooting section. We could prepare the disk for MSDOS partitioning, by erasing every sector. diskpart list disk select disk 1 list partition # this allows verifying what is to be deleted clean all # this erases the disk and makes it easier to @ do MSDOS partitioning (2.2TB disks). exit And after that step is finished, you can go back to doing the install as you would normally do a Clean Install. As now, the disk has no memory whatsoever, of what was there before. I know computer users have been clamoring for an opportunity to "wax technical" on their new computers. This looks like such a fine opportunity to mess up a new machine :-) I'm sure Dell is waiting now, for the return of a whole bunch of computers, where the "disk is mysteriously empty" :-) Or "wont boot" or similar description. But at least there's no SupportAssist on it any more. If you have a good, working, backup strategy, there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Paul |
#5
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
Alek wrote:
A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded malware (https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk.../#56cb81573f28) and the author suggests "As a wider tip: I would also advise anyone who buys a new PC to make their first step formatting the computer and reinstalling Windows." Every pre-built computer I've seen comes with pre-installed bloatware and trialware. Buyers think they got MS Office, but it's trialware. Same for some name-brand anti-virus software that is pre-installed on the pre-built. The buyer thinks the software was included but it isn't and is instead temporary. If "malicious" is simply defined as doing something you don't want or don't like or offers you anything you won't use, almost all that bloatware and trialware would qualify as malicious as it steals drive space and CPU cycles. Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? That would be one way if you want to wipe the computer. Another would be to do a Reset of Windows 10. That reinstalls the OS. You can decide if you want to keep or delete your data files. You'll have to reinstall all the apps and re-tweak the OS again. I don't know if pre-builts have customized Windows 10 to get their bundleware reinstalled on a reset. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...t-or-reinstall https://www.lifewire.com/reset-this-...hrough-2624538 I haven't bought a pre-built computer since about 1984. However, with laptops, netbooks, tablets, and smartphones, you're forced to buy a pre-built. |
#6
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
In article , VanguardLH
wrote: Every pre-built computer I've seen comes with pre-installed bloatware and trialware. then you haven't looked too hard. microsoft signature pcs do not, among others. |
#7
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
On 25/06/2019 10:19, Alek wrote:
A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded malware With your low level of intelligence, you should avoid reading these articles that are not peer reviewed. They are in the business of selling advertising space and the easy way is to write these eye catching articles so that people of low intelligence like you will read them and even be attracted by ads on the page. I haven't clicked on the your spam-ware so I don't know who wrote or what is in it. I have better things to do with my time rather than clicking on something posted by people of low intelligence like you. -- With over 999 million devices now running Windows 10, customer satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows. |
#8
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
Andy Burns wrote on 6/25/2019 6:15 AM:
Alek wrote: Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? Yes, so download it ... Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows 10. |
#9
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
Alek wrote:
Andy Burns wrote on 6/25/2019 6:15 AM: Alek wrote: Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? Yes, so download it ... Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows 10. If this is an OEM PC that came with Windows 10, the license key is stored in the BIOS, in the MSDM ACPI table. When you boot the Windows 10 DVD and install the matchings SKU (install Win10 Home if Win10 Home was on the machine originally), that key in the BIOS takes care of everything. When the system comes up, you can check and it will be activated. The hamburger wheel (Setup icon) on the lower left area, has a search box. Try typing "activation" in there, and there's probably a no-hassle status indicator in there somewhere. I'd give a command line example, but configuring Win10 takes time to make this simple to do. So just check the Setup Wheel thingy and using the search box "ask it" to cough up the goods. "Activation" is as good a search word as any. Windows 10 exhibits the usual grace period behavior, but during a typical work day, you might not see a nag about "Activate now" or the like, until half the day has gone by. It's kinda laid back about it. Another way to tell you're not activated, is the Settings : Personalize is not available. You cannot customize the OS until it is activated again. Paul |
#10
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
In article ,
nospam wrote: In article , VanguardLH wrote: Every pre-built computer I've seen comes with pre-installed bloatware and trialware. then you haven't looked too hard. microsoft signature pcs do not, among others. What a dumb thing to say! -- Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. |
#11
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
In article , Kenny McCormack
wrote: Every pre-built computer I've seen comes with pre-installed bloatware and trialware. then you haven't looked too hard. microsoft signature pcs do not, among others. What a dumb thing to say! nothing dumb about it. |
#12
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
On Tue, 25 Jun 2019 05:19:53 -0400, Alek
wrote: A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded malware (https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk.../#56cb81573f28) and the author suggests "As a wider tip: I would also advise anyone who buys a new PC to make their first step formatting the computer and reinstalling Windows." Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? You should read https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...heap,5717.html -- Regards, Eric Stevens |
#13
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Danger -- PCs with embedded malware
Eric Stevens wrote on 6/26/2019 6:13 AM:
On Tue, 25 Jun 2019 05:19:53 -0400, Alek wrote: A recent Forbes Mag article told of new PCs being sold with embedded malware (https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk.../#56cb81573f28) and the author suggests "As a wider tip: I would also advise anyone who buys a new PC to make their first step formatting the computer and reinstalling Windows." Don't I need Windows 10 installation media to do the latter? You should read https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...heap,5717.html Thanks. |
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